Combined display card and carrying case

ABSTRACT

A combined display card and carrying case unit is provided for use in merchandising various consumer-type articles. The unit includes a display panel fixed to a platform, the platform supporting the articles to be sold. When hung on a peg of a display rack in a retail outlet, the display card is unfolded to advertise the articles. When a sale is made, the display card is folded and in connection with the platform, forms a carrying case for the articles.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert D. Kahn 2,094,387 9/ 1 937 Vosburgh, Jr. 206/44(M) Rockville, NY. 2,361,923 11/1944 Arneson 229/22 [21] Appl. No. 795,087 2,505,399 4/1950 Hilton r 20 6/45. 14 [22] Filed Jan. 29,1969 2,604,204 7/1952 Rockey et al. 206/79 [45] Patented Apr. 20,1971 2,913,106 11/1959 Colgate, Jr. 206/79 [73] Assignee Fedtro,1nc. 2,983,368 5/1961 Vander Lugt, Jr 206/79 Rockville Centre, N.Y. 3,130,834 4/1964 Korzaan 206/80 3,236,366 2/1966 Broda et al. 206/79 [54] COMBINED DISPLAY CARD AND CARRYING CASE 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 206/44, 40/124.l, 211/72, 206/80 [51] Int. Cl B65d71/00, B65d 73/00, B65d 85/00 [50] Field of Search 206/44,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,721 12/1935 Hompe 229/22 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixon, Jr. Attorney-Amster & Rothstein ABSTRACT: A combined display card and carrying case unit is provided for use in merchandising various consumer-type articles. The unit includes a display panel fixed to a platform, the platform supporting the articles to be sold. When hung on a peg of a display rack in a retail outlet, the display card is unfolded to advertise the articles. When a sale is made, the display card is folded and in connection with the platform, forms a carrying case for the articles.

PATENTED APRZO I97! SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT D. KAHN ATTORNEYS PATENTEU APRZOISTI SHEET 2 [1F 2 INVEN'I'OR. ROBERT D. KAHN ATTORNEYS COMBINED lDISlPLAY CARD AND CARRYING CASE It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a single, unitary merchandising unit which will both serve as a display card for articles of consumer-type merchandise and which thereafter will serve as a convenient carrying case for such merchandise.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a merchandising unit of the character described which will carry articles of merchandise and enable such articles of merchandise in a displayed condition to be hung on the peg of a display raclt, and which after being sold, can be folded into a carrying and storage unit for such articles of merchandise.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide 'a merchandising unit of the character described which is simple and easy for retail outlet employees to set up in a display, and which can be easily converted to its carrying case form by either the retail outlet employees or by the customer himself.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a merchandising unit of the character described which is especially adapted for use with electrical products, and which is so constructed that the electrical products can have batteries inserted therein for display purposes or testing purposes, without removing the articles from the merchandising unit.

In general, the merchandising unit includes a display panel and a platform fixed to the panel at 90 with respect thereto. The merchandise sought to be sold is carried, on and temporarily attached to the platform. The upper portion of the display panel has an aperture formed therein so that the panel may be hung on the peg of a display rack. In this condition, the merchandising unit is in its display mode. The display panel is foldable approximately in half along a line generally parallel to the platform so that the lower portion of the display panel forms the rear wall of the carrying case and the upper portion of the display panel forms the front wall of the carrying case. The platform of the unit constitutes the bottom wall of the carrying case. Means is provided to join the free edge of the front wall to the platform and when this attachment is made, a carrying case is formed. A handle is fixed to the rear face of the panel and is used to hold the carrying case. In this mode, the merchandising unit forms the desired carrying case which may be used by the retail customer for both carrying the articles which he has purchased home and for thereafter storing the articles. 7

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the merchandising unit folded into the form of a carrying case;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the merchandising unit in its carrying case mode taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the merchandising unit showing the display panel unfolded so that the unit is in its display mode;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second form of the merchandising unit, with the portion in solid lines showing the unit in its carrying case mode and the portion in dot-and-dash lines showing the unit in its display mode;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the second form of the merchandising unit taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view of the second form of the merchandising unit taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. d.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a merchandising unit 110 is shown in a first embodiment in FIGS. l-3. As will be hereinafter set forth in greater detail, the merchandising unit in FIG. 3 is in a display mode, being hung on the projecting peg H of a display rack and in this mode both displays one or more articles of merchandise M of the type suited for use around the home or around the homeowners unit is in its folded condition in which it serves as a carrying case and a storage case for the articles of merchandise M. This is the carrying case mode of the unit.

The details of construction of the merchandising unit are as follows: Theunit 10 includes a display panel 14 to which is fixed a platform 16. The display panel 14 is made of relatively strong and stiff stock, typically cardboard or paper board and may be of substantially square dimensions. Specifically, the

display panel 14 includes parallel upper and lower edges 18,

20, respectively, and parallel side edges 22, 24. Further, the display panel 14 has a pair of opposed faces, one of these being the internal or display face 26, this being the face seen by the consumer when the merchandising unit is hanging on the display rack, and the other face being the external or carrying case face 28, this being the face exposed when the merchandising unit l0is in its carrying case mode. The display panel 14 has an aperture 30 formed therein adjacent its upper edge 18, and this aperture is desirably defined by a grommet 32. As best seen in FIG. 3, the book of peg H which extends from a display rack passes through the aperture 30. in the display panel 14 to support the entire unit 10. The peg l-I may also extend from a peg board, and the term display rack as used herein shall cover both a peg board and a display rack.

The platform 16 is desirably of rectangular configuration and includes a rear edge 34 that is coextensive with the lower edge 20 of the display panel 14. Desirably, the platform is formed of two parallel plies of cardboard for added strength in supporting the articles of merchandise M and the display panel 14 and the platform 16 are formed and folded from a single elongated sheet of stock. The platform 16 extends generally perpendicularly from the display panel 14 and carries thereon the one or more articles of merchandise M- desired to be sold.

For purposes of stability and security, the. articles of merchandise M are temporarily secured to the platform 16. The term termporarily" as used herein means that such fastening is sufficient to attach the articles of merchandise M to the platform 16 while the. merchandising unit is on display and while it is in its carrying mode, but can be easily detached by the customer when he desires to utilize the articles of merchandise. Such attaching means may typically. be a brass fastener 36 which passes through an aperture in a flange 38 on a lower portion of an article of merchandise M and then has its twin fingers spread apart between the plies of the platform 16.

Desirably, support means is provided to insure that the platform 16 remains at about to the display panel 14, even though the platform may be carrying relatively heavy articles of merchandise M. For this purpose, said support means includes small screws 40 which pass from the panel 14 into a rear portion of the articles of merchandise (see FIGS. 2 and 3), thereby retaining the platform 16 at the desired angle to the display panel 14. In so doing, it will be apparent that the screws attach the display card 14 to the articles M, and the articles are attached to the platform 14 by the fasteners 36.

As indicated by a comparison of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, The display panel 14 is foldable so as to define, with the platform 16, a carrying case. For this purpose, the display panel 14 has at least one and desirably two fold lines 42, 44 formed therein and said fold lines divide the display panel 14 into at least one and preferably a number of smaller panels or walls. The fold lines run generally parallel to the platform 16. More specifically, (see FIG. 1), the panel formed between the fold line 44 and the lower edge 20 of the display panel constitutes the rear wall 46 of the carrying case, the panel between the fold line 44 and the fold line 42 constitutes the top wall 48 of the carrying case, and the panel between the fold line 42 and the upper edge 18 of the panel constitutes the front wall 50 of the carrying case.

As best seen in FIG. 2, when folded the display panel l4'and the platform 16 assume a trapezoidal configuration, which is well suited to. contain the cylindrical articles of merchandise M shown in FIGS. l-3. The articles themselves aid in retaining the panel 14, when in its carrying mode, in its desired shape. Obviously, the display panel by appropriate configuration of the panel itself and appropriate location of one or more fold lines may assume almost any desired geometrical configuration.

For use in its carrying mode, a strap 52 is affixed to the external face 28 of the display panel 14 between the fold lines 42, 44 so that when the display panel is folded, the strap 52 will be centered on the top wall 48 of the carrying case and can be used by a customer to grip the unit 10.

Means is provided to detachably secure the carrying case in its carrying case mode. Such securing means may constitute a pair of rivets 54 secured to the display panel adjacent its upper edge 18, on either side of the aperture 30. Each rivet fixes a flexible washer 56 to the external face 28 of the display panel, and strings 58 are secured to the display panel between the external face 28 and the washer 56. The platform 16 has a pair of buttons 60 secured to its lower face adjacent its front edge 35. The string from each rivet 54 wraps around the associated button 60 to thereby close the carrying case, when so desired.

The mode of operation of the merchandising unit M will now be apparent. The display panel 14 in open condition is hung on the peg H which extends from a display rack. In this condition, the internal or display face 26 of the panel, which typically carries advertising information, may be observed by a retail customer, who will also see one or more articles of merchandise M carried openly on the platfonn 16. If the customer desires to buy the articles of merchandise, he, or a salesman, will take the merchandise unit off the peg H, fold the display panel along fold lines 42, 44 and secure the front wall 50 to the platform 16 by the strings 58. In this way, a carrying case has been made from the display panel and platform, which may be carried by the strap 52. ln this mode, the customer may take the articles of merchandise M to his home, and store the articles therein until use of the articles of merchandise is desired.

An ancillary feature of the merchandising unit 10 is the provision of means for permitting the supplying of electrical power to the articles of merchandise, to make the display thereof more interesting, while the merchandise is on the unit 10. The articles of merchandise M shown FIGS. 1-3 are flashing signal lights of the type used by a motorist to warn oncoming traffic that his vehicle is in a hazardous condition. Typically, such articles of merchandise include an upper translucent portion 62 in which a light bulb is contained (not shown), a base 64 and an on-off switch 66 which opens and closes the circuit to the bulb. As best seen in H6. 2, the base 64 internally carries a battery cradle 68 including conventional battery clips to hold a battery B in place.

To permit the battery B to be inserted into an article of merchandise M, while the same is on the unit 10, a large diameter aperture 70 is formed in the platform 16 directly beneath the article of merchandise M, thereby permitting access to the battery cradle 68 from beneath the platform 16. There is an aperture 70 formed below each article of merchandise. Further, another aperture 72 is formed in the lower portion of the display panel 14, and the switch 66 of the article of merchandise M protrudes therethrough. Thus, a battery B may be inserted into the article of merchandise M and the switch 66 manipulated, all while the articles of merchandise are carried on the platform 16. Hence, the batteries may be inserted either by the retailer to make an interesting display with the lights of the article of merchandise operating, or may be later utilized by the customer to insert the batteries to test that the articles of merchandise are operating properly.

A second form of the merchandising assembly 10 is shown in FIGS. 46, and differs in a few features. First, as seen in FIG. 5, the configuration of the display unit 10' in side elevation is rectangular, this being due to the fact that the top wall 48' is of the same configuration and dimensions as is the platform 16. Further, whereas in the first embodiment three identical articles of merchandise were carried, in the second embodiment of FIGS. 46, a variety of articles of merchandise are contained. Typically, such articles may include a small portable fire extinguisher E, a small light L of the type having a magnet in its base so that it can be attached to any metallic surface, a flag F, a flat tire inflation hose in coiled form T and three conically shaped flashing light units B.

Due to the nature of these articles, the weight on one side of the merchandising unit platform 16 may be heavier than the weight on the other side. To compensate for this, the aperture 30' is formed offcenter on the display panel so that when the peg H passes therethrough, the display panel 14 will hang with its platfonn substantially horizontal. The aperture 30 may be desirably formed through one of the rivets 56' in the display panel 14'.

To retain the platform 16 at a substantially right angle to the panel 14', the support means in the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 includes a small elongated stud 74 which has one end engaged to the panel 14 and which has its other end enlarged to engage a flashing light unit B. There is desirably on such study 74 for each light unit B. As previously mentioned, each article of merchandise is temporarily attached to the platform 16'.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding one of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

lclaim:

1. A merchandising unit to display and carry articles of merchandise, the unit including a display panel and a platform fixed to the lower portion of the panel and projecting therefrom, the platform being adapted to carry the articles of merchandise thereon and the panel being adapted to be hung on a display rack, means securing the platform in a position substantially perpendicular to the display panel, said securing means comprising a first fastening member attaching the display panel to at least one article of merchandise and a second fastening member attaching said article of merchandise to the platform, the display panel having at least one score line formed therein generally parallel to the platform, the display panel being adapted to fold about said fold line to define a front wall and a rear wall and to thereby form, with the platform, a carrying case for the articles of merchandise, and means for detachably securing the upper portion of the display panel to the platform.

2. A merchandising unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the merchandising unit includes a carrying strap fixed to a portion of the display panel.

3. A merchandising unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the display panel has a pair of parallel fold lines formed therein so that the display panel is adapted to fold about said fold lines into a front wall, a top wall, and a rear wall, which, with the platform, form a carrying case of trapezoidal configuration. 

1. A merchandising unit to display and carry articles of merchandise, the unit including a display panel and a platform fixed to the lower portion of the panel and projecting therefrom, the platform being adapted to Carry the articles of merchandise thereon and the panel being adapted to be hung on a display rack, means securing the platform in a position substantially perpendicular to the display panel, said securing means comprising a first fastening member attaching the display panel to at least one article of merchandise and a second fastening member attaching said article of merchandise to the platform, the display panel having at least one score line formed therein generally parallel to the platform, the display panel being adapted to fold about said fold line to define a front wall and a rear wall and to thereby form, with the platform, a carrying case for the articles of merchandise, and means for detachably securing the upper portion of the display panel to the platform.
 2. A merchandising unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the merchandising unit includes a carrying strap fixed to a portion of the display panel.
 3. A merchandising unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the display panel has a pair of parallel fold lines formed therein so that the display panel is adapted to fold about said fold lines into a front wall, a top wall, and a rear wall, which, with the platform, form a carrying case of trapezoidal configuration. 